Multiple-expansion engine.



No. 892,017. PATE NTED JUNE 30, 1908. A. G. STOKES.

MULTIPLE EXPANSION ENGINE.

APPLIOATION FILED IAN. 26, 1907.

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. pistons h, i and Z.

UNITED STATES IjgTENT OFFICE.

ALFRED G. STOKES, OF BELOIT, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO FAIRBANKS, MORSE dz 00., OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

MULTIPLE-EXPANSION ENGINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 26, 1907.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED G. S'roKEs, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Beloit, in the county of Rock and State of l/Visconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Multiple- Expansion Engines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in tandem multiple expansion engines, and is particularly adapted for pumping engines.

It consists in a novel construction and arrangement of parts whereby all pistons may be removed and all gaskets replaced without disturbing the heavier parts of the engine and frame, as will be more fully hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, I have shown a central longitudinal section of a triple expansion tandem engine embodying the invention. H,I and L are the high, intermediate, and low pressure cylinders respectively, having C is a crosshead con nected to the piston Z by rodsff, to the pis ton i by rods 6 e and to the piston h by the rod d. This crosshead is also connected to the pump plunger P of the pump p. The rodsff and e e are secured to the crosshead in any suitable manner, as by the nuts 0, and the rod (1 has its end reduced to form a shoulder (2 for engagement with the collar q. This collar rests against the crosshead while the reduced portion of the rod passes loosely through said crosshead and engages a collar n and a nut n beyond said crosshead.

The forward head a of the high pressure cylinder is removable for the replacement of its gasket, and for the removal of the piston h. The aperture in the crosshead is sufficiently large for the passage of the rod (Z, and after the nut n and the collar n are removed, the crosshead may be retracted until the rod (Z is free, permitting the removal of the collar q, after which the piston it may be drawn forward and out, the rod (1 passing freely through the crosshead C.

The cradle H connecting the high pressure and intermediate cylinders is preferably integral with the high pressure cylinder and the cradle I integral with the intermediate cylinder. Space is left within the cradle H for the partial removal of the forward head y' of the intermediate cylinder, this head sliding out on the rods e 6, thus permitting the replacement of a gasket for said head. The rear head K of the intermediate cylinder is entirely removable, thus permitting the removal of the piston 'i and the replacement of a gasket on said head K without disturbing the connections of the cylinders and cradles.

On the low pressure cylinder, the rear head I/ is of course removable for the re' moval of the piston Z, and the forward head 'm is removable for a short distance sliding on the rods f and free from the cradle I.

ith the above construction, the following advantages are obtained,-there are no steam joints at the cradles necessitating the taking down of the heavier parts of the engines for the replacement of gaskets; all pistons may be removed and all steam joints may be regasketcd without disturbing the heavier parts of the engine.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a multiple expansion engine, high and low pressure cylinders arranged tandem, pistons in said cylinders, a cross head provided with an opening therein, a iston rod extending from the piston in the liigh pressure cylinder and of a size to slide freely through the opening in said cross head, means 'for locking said piston rod to said cross head, and connections between said cross head and the piston in the low pressure cylinder.

2. In a multiple expansion engine, high and low pressure cylinders arranged tandem, pistons in said cylinders, a cross head provided with an opening therethrough, a piston rod extending from the piston in the high pressure cylinder of less diameter than the opening in the cross head, said piston rod being provided with a reduced outer end, a collar closing the inner end of the opening in the cross head and provided with an opening adapted to be engaged by the reduced portion of said piston rod, a nut threaded on the reduced ortion of said piston rod on the opposite si( e of the cross head, and connections between said cross head and thepiston in the low pressure cylinder.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ALFRED G. STOKES.

l/Vitnesses:

L. A. COLE, GEo. B. INGERSOLL. 

